Emma's POV:
The square is chaos.
Warriors everywhere. Wolves shifting. Children crying. The air thick with fear and adrenaline.
Alpha Nathan stands at the center. His face is stone. Luna Margaret beside him. Evan behind them.
'Of course Evan's there. Safe. Protected.'
I stay at the edge. Try to make myself small. Invisible.
Emma finds me. Her hand grips mine.
"Emma." Her voice shakes. "Is this—is he here for—"
"I don't know." The lie tastes bitter.
I know.
Movement at the border. The crowd parts.
Red Claw warriors. Fifty at least. Maybe more. All armed. All deadly.
They form a perfect semicircle around the square. Trapping us.
And at the center, golden hair catching torchlight—
Lucian.
My body goes rigid. Cold. Every muscle locks.
'No. No, he can't be here. He can't—'
He's
